Tea-infuser



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet :24 J. H. SUTTHOFP.

TEA INFUSER No. 561,921. Patented June 9, 1896.

./gfiorney UNITED STATES PATENT Erica JOHN H. SUTTHOFF, OF SEATTLE, VTASHINGTON.

TEA-INFUSER.

SPEGIFlGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,921, dated J une 9, 1896.

Serial No. 553,494. (No model To @ZZ when?, t may concer-m Be it known that I, lOl-IN H. SUTTHOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing in Seattlc, county of King, and State of lVashingt-on, have invented a new and useful Tea-lnfuser, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements, in tea infuscrs or steepers in which a perforated receptacle is provided for holding tea-leaves during the time of their immersion in preparing tea liquor; and the objects of my improvements are to provide a utensil which Will produce a uniform strength of tea at each steeping, no matter what quantity of liquor is desirable; also, that the last cup drawn may be of the same quality as the iirst; also, to provide an article of manufacture that will be self-cleaning and contain the essential features-of an adjustable measure provided with a bob for the purpose of easily extracting the infuser from the teapot. l attain these objects by the novel construction and arrangement of forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of my infuser. Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation showing a modified forni of punctures or perforations; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the perforated top cap; Fig. i, a cross-section of same; Fig. 5, a top view of the removable bottom cap; Fig. 6, a cross-section of same; Fig. 7, a side elevation of the perforated adjust-able measuring piston and rod. Fig. S is a cross-section of notched piston-rod on line .fs y. Fig. Si is a plan view of piston and rod. Fig. lO is a sectional plan view showing the adjusting-rod in position when locked. Fig. 1l is a section on line G lil of Fig. l0, showing the rod in position when locked. Fig. l2 is a section on line l J, showing the rod in position when locked. Fig. 13 is a plan view showing the rod turned for adjustment.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The punctured metallic cylindrical tube A, provided with a rigidly-attached punctured metallic gage cap B, constitutes the main body or case, containing the adjustable perforated measuring-disk piston E, attached to the elliptical-shaped piston gaging-rod D, provided ivith half-moon-shaped gage-slots k and a `flattened bulb-shaped knob b with an anchor-cord hole f, piercing the bulbed knob Z), transverselyT containing` the lower end of a bob-cord F, fastened thereto, the upper end of this cord F passing longitudinallyv through a concave conical-shaped cork or bob G and being attached thereto.

The lower end of the cylinder A, provided with short cap doivel-pins i, projecting radially from the outer surface diametrically opposite, provides for the attachment of the cylindrical circular-recessed removable cap c, provided with tivo radial receiving-slots d, diametrically opposite, severing the inwardlyprojecting iiange g,these rece vin g-slots being equal in Width to the diameter of the attaching-pins e'.

The cylindrical ease A, cap B, and piston E are punctured or perforated to allow for the perfect action of the Water upon the inclosed tea-leaves. These pcrforations may be of any desired form, one modicd shape being indicated in Fig. ln preparing tea or other liquor obtainable by steeping leaves the piston E is adjusted by grasping the case A in one h and, and with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand grasp the bulb b, turn the elliptical-shaped rod D in the elliptical-shaped puncture 7L of cap B until the major diameter of both are in line. The rod can then be slipped in or out. lf one cup of liquor is desired, the rod is pushed down from the position indicated in Fig. l, bringing the iirst slot 7a below the bulb b on the same plane with the cover B, and by turning the rod one-quarter turn to the right or left fastens the piston E in a position to measure the proper amount of leaves. lf more cups than one is desirable, the rod D is adjusted outwardly in the gage-cap li to the desired notch, each notch represen ting'a cup of liquor when steeped. After the piston E has been adjusted, as heretofore described, the infuser is reversed, the cap C removed by turning the slots d in line with -the pins i. Leaves are then placed upon the piston E until the infuser is full, the cap C replaced and sccured by turning a quarter-turn to the right or left, the rod D moved outwardly, bringing the lower notch from the bulb o in contact with the disk-cap l5. This allows the leaves to separate and become Well soaked. The infuser is then ready to be placed in the Wa- IOO ter. As it rests in the teapot or other vessel, the bob Gr remains upon the surface of the liquid, being connected to the infuser bythe anchor-cord F.

I use a cork in the construction of my bob G, which, being a non-conductor of heat, the infuser can be removed without danger of burning the operators hand. The bob-cord F is of sufficient length to allow the infuser to rest upon the bottom of the receptacle in which it may be placed, and the bob G, attached thereto, is employed to locate and remove the infuser; but in no case is it used to sustain the infuser in the liquor. As clearly seen, this device allows for a uniformity of tea or other liquor obtained by steeping leaves, as when the liquor is of the required strength the infuser is removed from the teapot and the last cup drawn is of the same degree of strength and quality as the first, thus avoiding the eects of tannin and astringent properties which are contained in the tea when the leaves are allowed to remain in the pot for some time.

As clearly shown, no strainer is necessary when the int' user is used, as the tea-leaves are withdrawn with the infuser. This also avoids the clogging of the teapot-spout with leaves. I Vhen the spout is closed with leaves, the teapot is ofttimes tipped, so that the top falls off, breaking the cup and deluging the guest. By the use of the infuser this is avoided.

By using my infuser as a measure a uniform tea is obtained at all times and no guesswork is necessary in preparing tea.

This infuser takes the place of a strainer, as the liquor runs out of the perforations into the teapot when' the infuser is withdrawn, leaving the tea-leaves inside of the case.

My infuseris economical, clean, and seientiiically correct, avoids grounds in the cup, drips from a strainer, and is cleaned of all leaves by pressing the piston down and out of the cylinder after removing the removable cap, and can be produced as cheaply as an ordinary strainer. I propose to construct it of aluminium, though other metals may be used.

I do not confine myself to the form shown, as it may be constructed in different forms with the same novel points.

lIavin g thus described my invention, what I claim as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. In tea-infusers, a perforated cylinder A, provided at one end with a perforated cover B permanently attached thereto and provided with an opening h of elliptical form and at the other end with oppositely-arran ged pins or projections 1f, a rod D operating in the opening h of cover B, and provided at one end with a knob b and with slots 7o cut across one edge and a perforated piston E attached to the opposite end and operating in cylinder A, being capable of adjustment therein to different measures by said slots 71: of rod D adapted to engage the perimeter of said opening h, a removable cover C provided with slots CZ and attached to the end of cylinder A by the engagement of slots CZ with the pins L' providing for the introduction and retaining of tea-leaves, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. In tea-infusers of tubular form, a cap B provided with an elliptical opening 7i', a rod D fitting loosely therein and provided at its upper end with a knob l) and with slots ;v adapted to register with the perimeter ol' opening 7L in sustaining the measuring-pistou E, attached at the lower end of rod D, and operating in a cylinder A, mounted by the cap B, and provided at the opposite end with oppositely-arranged pins or projections e', and with a removable cover C, provided with slots d, adapted to engage the pins i, substantiallyv as shown and set forth.

3. The combination with the perforated cylinder provided with a permanent cover at one end containing an opening therein, and with oppositely-arranged pins or projections at the opposite end, of a measuring and cleaning piston operating therein, a gaging-rod attached to said piston terminating in a knob and fitting in the opening in said cover and provided with slots adapted to register with the perimeter of said opening in sustaining said piston at various measures, said rod operated to press the piston down and out of the cylinder in cleaning same, and a removable cover provided with slots adapted to engage said pins or projections on the cylinder, substantially as shown and set forth.

4. In tea-inf users, an adjusting-rod of elliptical form provided on one edge with gagingslots and terminating at its upper end in a flattened knob provided with an opening an d a cord attached therein and a bob attached to said cord adapted to locate said infuser when immersed and for the removal thereof from the liquor, said rod operating a measuring-piston attached to its lower end and contained in a perforated cylinder provided at one end with oppositely-arranged pins or projections and at the opposite end with a permanently-attached perforated cover, said gaging-rod passing through an opening of elliptical form in said cover and operating therein by means of the slots provided in said rod registering with the perimeter of said elliptical opening, a removable cover provided with slots attached to the lower end of the perforated cylinder by means of said slots to engage the projections or pins of said cylinder, substantially as shown and set forth.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a cylindrical tea-infuser composed of a perforated tube A, provided at one end with a permanent cover B and at the other with oppositelyarranged pins or projections, of a cover C provided with slots d adapted to engage with the pins on the tube, a piston E in said tube provided with a rod D, said rod passing through an opening h in cover B and terminating in a knob b, and provided with slots IOO IIO

k, adapted to register with the opening 71 substantially as shown and set forth.

G. A tea-infuser of varying capacity comprising a perforated tube A, provided at one end with a permanent cover B and at the other end with oppositely-arranged pins or projections, of a cover C provided with slots (l, adapted to engage with the pins on the tube, a piston E on said tube provided with a rod D, said rod passing through an opening 7l, in cover B and provided with slots Zz, adapted to register with the opening h, and terminating in a knob b, provided with an opening f, and cord F, attached to a bob Gr adapted to locate the infnser when in the liquor, substantially as shown and set forth.

7. In tea-infusers, the combination of a perforated cylinder having at its upper end a permanently-attached perforated cover provided with an opening of elliptical form and at the lower end two oppositely-arranged pins or projections; with the elliptical adjustingrod passing through said opening in said cover and providing for the adjustment of an attached measuring-piston operating in said cylinder by means of a knob on the projecting end of said adj usting-rod and measuringslots cut across one edge which engage the perimeter of said elliptical opening in said cover, and a removable cover provided with oppositely-arranged slots adapted to lock and unlock on the lower end of said cylinder by the engagement of the slots in said cover with the pins or projections, on the cylinder; substantially as shown and set forth.

JOHN H. SUTTHOFF. Titnesses FRANK E. ADAMS, CLARENCE L. VHITE. 

